INBF World Championships 2009
Report by Lee Kemp with additional text by Carol Streeter, Wayne Braddock, and Steve Davies - photos courtesy of the INBF and Tonya Streeter
Following the announcement that the UIBBN Worlds would be held in South Africa in 2009, a mere 6 days after the NPA British Championships, it quickly became apparent that for a variety of reasons we simply would not be able to send a team over to compete. This was the second year running that the UIBBN had effectively put the Worlds out of the reach of the NPA and we were determined on this occasion to field a team to a World Championship regardless. With that, old ties with the American based INBF were revisited and arrangements made with them for an NPA team to contest the Worlds in New York, on Saturday 14th November.
I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to take charge of the NPA team of Mike Hannam (2008 overall British and 2009 Pro Am champion), Carol Streeter (4 times lightweight and 3 times overall British champion), Steve Davies (2008 and 2009 British lightweight champion) and Wayne Braddock (2009 British heavyweight champion) and experience a fantastic trip to New York City in the company of a few friends and family members who were along for the ride to support our team.
Bar a couple of members of the party, it was our first trip to “The Big Apple” and it did not disappoint. A truly marvellous city with some amazing sights to behold and a variety of personalities to meet, not to mention the food! The 2 days of our stay before the show must have been absolute torture for those competing. Then again, they were about to step on-stage in the biggest contest of their lives, so I’m sure they didn’t mind too much.
Prior to the contest there were the usual rounds of meetings which included the registration and polygraph drug testing of our athletes (which they passed with flying colours, naturally…) and it has to be said that at that point we had been treated incredibly well by our hosts. Far better than we had been used to on previous occasions (with other sanctioning bodies, I hasten to add) which served to give the team high hopes for the contest ahead. And it was with those high hopes that we set off from our hotel for the contest on a very cold and windy morning. As the team made their way through the crowds of fellow competitors checking in, it soon became apparent that there were over 200 entries amongst the various classes of the amateur contest. In addition, the WNBF Pro Worlds were also being held (and were indeed already underway when we arrived at the venue just after 9am) so we were in for a long day for sure!
The first of our team up onstage was Carol Streeter. This was her second appearance at this show, having won the title in 2004. This year, Carol was better than ever with condition and detail which surpassed anything seen from her previously. In a strong line-up of eleven ladies, Carol was by far the smallest and lightest but her incredible condition and balance along with her faultless stage presence made her one of the favourites for the class win. In the end, Jennie Napoli of the USA proved just too big and muscular for the other ladies in the class and took the win with Carol a close second. A fantastic start to the contest for team GB!
Next up was Steve Davies who had the unenviable task of standing in the toughest of the mens' amateur line-ups in terms of depth of quality with 20 top class entrants from afar afield as Japan, Australia and Europe. In all honesty, there were 8 or 9 men in this class who could easily feature in the top 5 of the class and somebody was going to go home very disappointed! This was a very difficult class to judge, but Steve was well in the mix and repeatedly compared with my pick for first place, Fred Gereige of Australia. Come the night show, the stage was truly pandemonium as all 20 men (who must have known the problems they were posing for the judges) jostled to give the panel one final look at them before the results were announced. The judges rewarded the extreme condition and separation of Mark Correa with the class win, with Gereige second and Steve a tad unlucky not to beat Akihiro Goto of Japan for third place, but nonetheless deserving of his fourth place which rounded out a superb competitive year for him.
Mike Hannam quite simply dominated the middleweight class. There was no question whatsoever from the second the 9 man line-up filed on-stage that the team would be leaving New York with at least one World Champion and that Mike would be going home with a WNBF pro card (which were on offer to all class winners), and a lot more luggage than he came with in the form of the huge winners trophies that were being handed out! Mike bought his customarily well muscled and near perfectly balanced physique to the stage, and showed it off like the pro he was about to become. This was one of the most dominant wins I have ever seen at this level and I predict that Mike will go on to become a successful pro competitor and one of the all time greats of British Natural Bodybuilding. He is that good! In third place, Paul Todd was in his best ever shape, and thoroughly deserved his placing.
Our last athlete to take the stage was heavyweight Wayne Braddock. Although the least experienced member of the team on paper, he was not at all fazed by his first foray into international competition and really went for it in the initial comparisons. It soon became apparent that he was clearly in the top three and fighting it out with American Peter Yeager and Swiss Michael Frauchinger for the title. All three were big and ripped, with Wayne’s excellent lines and symmetry being the clincher in a close three way battle which concluded with the teams' second class win, world champ and pro card!
Onto the Overall, and the showdown we’d been waiting for all day between our own Mike Hannam and Wales’ Alun Davies, who’d won the light-heavy class earlier in the day. We’d originally been expecting these two to have been in the same weight class and had been speculating for some weeks over how Mike's more aesthetically pleasing physique would compare with Alun's trademark freaky conditioning. As they stood side by side, it was evident (with no disrespect to Mark or Wayne) that it was a two horse race for the big prize. It was also evident that as conditioned as he was, Alun simply was no match for Mike when they were directly compared body part for body part. All of the judges bar one agreed and at close to 1am, a jubilant Mike Hannam took the Overall World title in style. It was a fantastic end to a very long day!
The following morning, the team followed up a monster breakfast with a few days of taking in the incredible sights before heading home. Overall, a fantastic trip to a great show which will not be forgotten.
So here’s to 2010, and the hope that this season brings just as much success as the last. Congratulations to all of our Brits, who came, saw and conquered!
Lee Kemp
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What did our British team members think of the trip? Four-times NPA British Champion Carol Streeter got a close second in the Ladies Physique class, here's what she had to say...
Competition day was the usual long, tiring event but without doubt a great day!
There was just one Ladies Physique line-up, with 11 competitors in my class. 16 were needed for the class to be split into heavy and lightweights. When we lined up I could see there were a couple of serious looking heavyweights, but not being intimidated, I posed my heart out and fought for it every step! I knew my condition was worthy of a good placing and was hoping that it would see me through to a good position.
Thankfully it did, although not quite the one I would have liked, and when the results were announced in the evening I was given 2nd place with a rather large American lady taking 1st. Needless to say I was aiming for 1st, but considering the line up, 2nd was an excellent placing, certainly not one to be disappointed with.
It was a truly great trip to the Big Apple and made all the more enjoyable by the company shared...Tonya, Michael, Steve, Wayne, Craig, Lee, Kim & Tony...We had such a great time visiting the sites and eating all the food!! (After the competition of course!)
This was the icing on the cake to a fantastic and quite emotional year for me. To be representing Great Britain and the NPA as a Natural Bodybuilder is quite something and it’s hard to put into words quite what it means to me. Without a doubt my heart lies with the NPA and I feel very proud to have been able to represent the association as well as my country as a Natural Bodybuilder.
I have always considered competitive bodybuilding a team sport because without the support of our partners, loved ones, and families it just wouldn’t happen! My thanks go to each and everyone one of them; especially Carl, my husband and trainer, and Tonya, my 16 year old daughter who is in many ways my emotional support. Tonya enjoyed New York too!
For this trip Carl was unable to come with me. As a wheelchair user and chronic pain sufferer he decided it was just going to be too much.
So after some thought I decided it would be an ideal opportunity to take my daughter Tonya with me. She knew how things worked as far as comp prep was concerned and Carl and I both consider her to be a very mature 16 year old, well worthy of being a helpful member of the NPA team going off to a World Championship. She most certainly proved her worth on competition day and got on with helping out along with all the other team members as well as loving every minute of the show and cheering on all the team when they were up on stage!
Tonya was an absolute star member of the team and showed a maturity beyond her years on the day of the competition, doing her utmost to ensure that she helped out in every way possible. I really don’t know what I would have done without her!
Carol Streeter
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Wayne Braddock, NPA Novice British Champion 2007, NPA Heavyweight British Champion 2009, and now INBF World Heavyweight Champion...not a bad record for someone who has only competed 5 times! Here's what Wayne had to say...
After winning the heavyweight title at the 2009 NPA British Finals I was shocked and delighted to receive an invite two days later to travel with 3 other competitors to New York to compete in the INBF World Championships. Although only my second year of competing, I was set and ready to take it to the American stage. Come show day I felt confident and excited about stepping on-stage in a line up of 13 guys, including 6 Americans!! My gym owner and good friend Craig came along for the trip to show his continued help and support as he had done all year long and what a great pleasure it was to have him there with me and also while also encouraging all the other NPA / Great Britain team members. Checked in and weighed in at 200lbs bang on and received lucky number 7...the number on the back of my shirt for 12 years as a football player!! Hmmmm, was this a good sign???? Back-stage I saw some of my class. A few big guys but a look in the mirror with Craig geeing me up, confirmed to me I was walking out there in the best shape of my life...so far!! After a long, long wait the time came to go on for the first time. Being number 7 I was smack bang in the middle of the stage and throughout the comparisons of rounds 1 and 2 I was never moved from the middle. I posed my heart out and gave it everything coming off stage wet through!!! It must have gone midnight when i finally went out for round 3 and eventually the results. I stood there with the top 5 from my class and as they began awarding the places, I remember closing my eyes and thinking of my Mum and Dad back home...and then BOOM 2nd place was called and I let out a big scream realising I had just taken 1st spot at the WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS!!!! I came away from the venue, tired and drained but while stood in the rain trying to flag a Yellow Cab with a huge trophy in my hands, I was now a World Champion and Pro Bodybuilder!!!!! I got back to my hotel room and was overwhelmed with tears as I spoke with my Mum and Dad on the phone, a perfect end to an amazing day. Needless to say the next two days were welcomed with some American-sized portions of food and took in some great sites!! It was a pleasure to meet and get to know the rest of the team, particularly Carol and her daughter Tonya who were lovely and then there's Stevie...who is due a visit up to Yorkshire in the near future!!! Finally I would like to take this opportunity to thank the NPA for choosing to take me along to represent them and Great Britain and I am delighted I was able to contribute to a excellent team performance. Many thanks too, to Craig Hartley and everyone at Potential Gym who have shown amazing support for me in 2009, and last but not least my Mum and Dad (Number One Supporters), love you both. All the best to everyone in 2010. Wayne Braddock
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Steve Davies, 2008 & 2009 NPA British Lightweight Champion loved his trip to America...here's what he had to say...
Well, what an amazing 2 years I've had!
Two British titles, two great trips, first to the UIBBN Europeans in Belgium in June, but I must say the last adventure to New York with the NPA British team beats it all!
The flight was the longest I've ever been on, and I had the opportunity of getting to know Mr. Montalbano (Monty). It was great getting to know Tony, you can say he's won a fair bit in his bodybuilding career. The flight to me wasn't too bad, until the food came around now I know people call flight food over, but to me it looked like 5 star food after dieting more or less all year! (Thanks for eating mine, Tony, what an appetite).
On arrival, we all paired up to share rooms, myself and Michael Hannam shared, in a few days he was to become Middleweight & Overall INBF World Champion - what an incredible achievement! Soon, as we settled, we were out looking for diet food, which probably only took an hour or two with Lee Kemp managing to save the day finding a George Foreman grill for the team to use. Carbing up was great, we even found a nice little diner that did oven cooked potatoes, the only argument I had with them was that they kept saying "you want Chips man?" I thought if only I could eat chips it would be easy! The best moment was when we asked for over 15 potatoes, the chef's face was a picture! The next two days were spent getting to know the rest of the team, and I can say I made some great friends and very supportive ones too.
The day of the show!
I personally didn't have a clue what to expect, same as a few others, but I can say the Americans were very friendly and made us all feel very welcome. The weigh in; I tipped the scales at 147lbs with just my trunks on, not the biggest lightweight out there, but I felt confident on how I looked especially in the morning after putting a coat of tan on in the hotel…I don't think I could have looked any better!
After the weigh-in I thought I'd check out the 12 I thought I was up against, just to find out there were 20 in my class!! Bantamweights weighing in too heavy and some middleweights weighing in too light, I thought, ‘Great, what a battle this is going to be (oh hell!)’.
The Pro-show was great and went on for a few hours, it was held before ours and was very professionally done indeed.
Tanning and pumping up, what a great team of helpers I had - Tony and Lee were excellent and the words of encouragement and inspiration from them both were very much appreciated. The nerves started to set in a little before-hand but I go into a zone when pumping up, I'm there to do a job, be at my very best plus I don't like letting myself down or others. Walking on-stage the 20 man line-up was split into two sets of 10 initially, I went from one end of the stage to the other, then closer to the middle, then in the middle, then just outside the middle!! The judges had us holding poses what seemed like minutes at a time, I've never broke into such a sweat, plus the stage lights were like being stood on the beach, honest, it was that hot! After my class was judged I just got my head down and chilled as much has possible until the evening.
Evening came, they called the 10 competitors who didn't get a placing - it was comical that I got called out with this group, as the judges started introducing everyone and they went straight passed me, you can imagine what I was thinking of the guy who was lining us up, I think Lee Kemp went green at this point - easy mistake I suppose! Lee sorted it out!
Top 10 on the stage finally with only the top 5 getting called back for music; great, my number gets called and I’m in the top 5, (placing not known yet), better than being out of the top 10 for sure! I walk off very anxious but looking around thinking my symmetry had got me at least top 3 or better. Music done and we all go back on; 5th place got called, then me, I placed 4th which thinking of it wasn't bad at all, my first time on an American stage, and all. I knew I looked and did my best, so my job was done! Time to sit back and watch the Overall which was nearly a British line up!
What a long, but very rewarding day for everyone, especially for my room-mate Michael Hannam and big Wayne Braddock – excellent, well done lads!!!
The final night was spent with a get together Italian style and a large bottle of wine to celebrate! That went on to a different diner for desert where Wayne was awarded the most you can eat award, I thought I had a good appetite! Sorry Wayne "Ice-cream" Braddock and yes hopefully I'll pop up to Yorkshire sometime this year to see you all, hopefully before dieting again!
I'd like to thank the NPA for sending us all on such a great trip and the memories I've gained from meeting all of you; Craig, Tonya, and the whole team. Special thanks to Tony, Lee and Kim! I wish you all great success for 2010!!!
I would also like to thank my new sponsor Reflex Nutrition for their professionalism and for the way they've looked after me to date, its great being sponsored and recognised by such a well known supplement company. A special thanks to the gym members at Fitness 101 for all their support and encouragement, and to gym owner Andrew Rowberry for help sponsoring my trip.
Finally, my best supporters, my Mam and Dad, and my girlfriend Ani, thanks for everything!
Steve Davies
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